Pulp, paper and packaging converter Oji Fibre Solutions has revealed its plans to open a new $68m packaging facility on the Gold Coast, set to employ some 50 people in the local region.
The paper-based facility will be built in the Gold Coast suburb of Yatala, and according to Oji construction of the Green Star-rated site will bring 300 jobs to the community and will employ another 50 following its completion.
Oji Fibre Solutions CEO Jon Ryder says the new Yatala facility will grow the company’s capacity to produce and supply corrugated packaging products across NSW, the Northern Territory and Queensland.
“We believe there is opportunity to take advantage of the increasing demand for corrugated packaging in Queensland and the Yatala project fits our strategy to increase vertical integration across our pulp, paper and packaging business,” says Ryder.
The company’s general manager of packaging in Australia, Nick Molloy adds “Oji Fibre Solutions is broadly recognised for our high performance packaging products, particularly for demanding supply chains. The market has encouraged us to expand our manufacturing footprint and we look forward to offering customers more choice.”
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Oji’s development proposal has received support from the Queensland State Government through the Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund, and from the Gold Coast City Council’s Investment Attraction Program. The council has spent some $300,000 encouraging companies like Oji to make investments in the Gold Coast region.
The facility is on track for completion by the end of 2016, with expectations the plant will be fully functional some time next year.
Formally known as Carter Holt Harvey Pulp and Paper, the business was purchased from Rank Group by a joint venture between Oji Holdings and Innovation Network Corporation of Japan in late 2014.
Most of Oji’s operations are in New Zealand, with eight packaging facilities across the country. It employs more than 1850 staff across its plants in NZ and Australia.
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